STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Officials say four people were injured when two boats knocked into one another on the Atlantic Ocean near Staten Island.

A New York Pilot boat crew and a 984-foot cargo container ship collided in the waters near the Ambrose Pilot Station off Sandy Hook, N.J. on Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard.

The pilot boat was later docked at the Sandy Hook Pilots facility on Edgewater Street on the Island, the spokeswoman said.

A crewman of the pilot boat suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, and was transported
to Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, according to the
spokeswoman. Three other crewmen suffered minor injures.

The cause of the incident is under investigation, the spokeswoman said.

Pilot boats transport the experts who guide bigger ships into and out of congested harbors.